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Sunfish (dinghy)
Encyclopedia
The Sunfish sailboat is a personal size, beach launched sailing dinghy
utilizing a pontoon
type hull
carrying a lateen
sail
mounted to an un-stayed
mast
.
Sunfish was developed by Alcort, Inc. and first appeared around 1952 as the “next generation” improvement on their original boat, the Sailfish
. In contrast, the Sunfish has a wider beam
for more stability, increased freeboard
and the addition of a foot-well for a more comfortable sailing position. Sunfish began as a wood hull design and progressed to fiberglass
construction just a few years after its introduction.
Having a lateen sail with its simple two line rigging
makes a Sunfish simple to learn sailing on and to set up. Upgrades can be added to enhance sail control for competitive sailing, making the boat attractive to both novice and experienced sailors alike.
Due to the broad appeal of the Sunfish, in 1995 it was commended by The American Sailboat Hall of Fame
for being “the most popular fiberglass boat ever designed, with a quarter million sold worldwide” (at that point in time). Today, the Sunfish brand-name has become so widely known it is often misapplied generically
to refer to any brand board-style boat sporting the characteristic lateen
sail.
lateen
sail gives the Sunfish an anachronistic appearance compared with today's more familiar high-aspect ratio Bermuda rig
sailboats. However, this sail plan is not as old-world as it might first appear. Using a lateen rig for this style boat shifts the advantage toward better performance in lighter air (less than 4 on the Beaufort scale
) and contributes to it having good down-wind characteristics.
The hull’s very mild "V" bottom and hard chine
make Sunfish a most stable boat for its size, along with enabling it to sail on a plane
(hydroplane). Planing allows the boat to achieve a speed greater than theoretical hull speed
based on length at waterline (LWL
). Having a down-wind performance advantage helps the Sunfish to achieve a planing attitude at lower wind speeds than its high-aspect ratio sail plan counterparts.
Designed as a water-tight, hollow-body pontoon
, a hull like the Sunfish has is sometimes referred to as "self-rescuing" because the boat can be capsized and its cockpit swamped without threat of the boat sinking.
. Originally framing carpenters
by trade, these two entrepreneurs began their sailcraft endeavors building iceboats as a sideline. A proposal to build a lifesaving paddleboard for the Red Cross came their way. They determined the concept unfeasible as it stood. An improved design sporting a sailing canoe sail rig did however strike a spark as a possible profit making venture. From that humble beginning the Sailfish
was born and seven years later an improved design, the Sunfish.
‡ One-Design Sunfish racing remains a “manufacturer’s Class” for mutual support and true to all one-on-one style racing, competing boats must conform to One Design
and Class Rules in order to qualify to race in sanctioned events. Recreational use boats may be modified as the owner chooses and need not conform to anything more than the local boating safety regulations in effect where the boat is sailed.
For most One-Design Class eligible boats, the number of boats built and the number of boats registered in the racing class are closely related. This makes the boat and the racing Class practically one and the same. The Sunfish is an anomaly to this more familiar symbiotic relationship.
The Sunfish Class Association reported in 2001, Sunfish production had exceeded 300,000 boats. The registrar for One Design sailing in the United States, US Sailing
, reported in a 2004 survey, Sunfish Class membership numbered 1,573. This does not mean Sunfish isn’t a preferred race boat. On the contrary, at 1,573 Class members, Sunfish ranks in the upper percentile of boats involved with organized racing in the U.S. It does, however, demonstrate the boat’s above average versatility to suit a broader range of sailing applications.
race, Seattle's Duck Dodge, and the Hampton Roads Sunfish Challenge & Dinghy Distance Race serve as examples of the sort of fun Sunfish sailors have without getting too serious.
◊ ISCA Racing is in accordance with the Sunfish Class Rule Book and ISAF
Racing Rules of Sailing
(RRS).
sail
that worked on the Sunfish hull and christened his design the Formula S. The high aspect ratio sail plan has better upwind performance characteristics over the lateen sail, changing the boat’s handling to point
more like other Bermuda rig
sailboats in its size. With this configuration, complexity of sail control is elevated by the addition of dynamic outhaul
, downhaul
, and mainsheet traveller
lines.
Lee's concept didn’t interest Alcort, Inc. as a production model so he refit conversion boats independently and sparked organization of Formula S fleets. A few years after their 1969 purchase of Alcort, Inc., AMF revisited the idea of a high aspect ratio rig for the Sunfish. AMF did not choose to adopt Lee’s Formula S design, they did however, develop their own variation calling it the Super Sunfish. The existing Formula S fleet eventually became assimilated into the ranks of AMF Super Sunfish fleets.
The Super Sunfish was available from 1974 to 1984. AMF marketed this more conventional sail plan as a performance version of the Sunfish in an attempt to compete with, among others, the newly emerging Laser. Portsmouth handicap numbers, however, place the Laser slightly faster. With its hard chine
hull, the Super Sunfish is the more stable boat so it's a tradeoff between the two designs.
The Super Sunfish was offered as a complete package and as a kit to retrofit existing lateen rigged Sunfish. The literature points out the sail systems can be easily swapped on a single Sunfish hull to accommodate different sailor's preferences.
Dinghy sailing
Dinghy sailing is the activity of sailing small boats by using five essential controls:* the sails* the foils ....
utilizing a pontoon
Floats (nautical)
Floats are airtight hollow structures, similar to pressure vessels, whose air-filled interior makes them buoyant in water. They are most often used to make up the multipart hulls of trimarans, small open catamarans, and floatplanes . Their main purpose is to supply buoyancy, not storage space...
type hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
carrying a lateen
Lateen
A lateen or latin-rig is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction....
sail
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
mounted to an un-stayed
Stays (nautical)
Stays are the heavy ropes, wires, or rods on sailing vessels that run from the masts to the hull, usually fore-and-aft along the centerline of the vessel...
mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
.
Sunfish was developed by Alcort, Inc. and first appeared around 1952 as the “next generation” improvement on their original boat, the Sailfish
Sailfish (sailboat)
The Sailfish sailboat is a small, hollow body, board-boat style sailing dinghy. The design is a shallow draft, sit-upon hull carrying a lateen sail mounted to an un-stayed mast. This style sailboat is sometimes referred to as a "wet boat" because, with its minimal freeboard, the sailor often gets...
. In contrast, the Sunfish has a wider beam
Beam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
for more stability, increased freeboard
Freeboard (nautical)
In sailing and boating, freeboardmeans the distance from the waterline to the upper deck level, measured at the lowest point of sheer where water can enter the boat or ship...
and the addition of a foot-well for a more comfortable sailing position. Sunfish began as a wood hull design and progressed to fiberglass
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
construction just a few years after its introduction.
Having a lateen sail with its simple two line rigging
Rigging
Rigging is the apparatus through which the force of the wind is used to propel sailboats and sailing ships forward. This includes masts, yards, sails, and cordage.-Terms and classifications:...
makes a Sunfish simple to learn sailing on and to set up. Upgrades can be added to enhance sail control for competitive sailing, making the boat attractive to both novice and experienced sailors alike.
Due to the broad appeal of the Sunfish, in 1995 it was commended by The American Sailboat Hall of Fame
American Sailboat Hall of Fame
The American Sailboat Hall of Fame was established in 1994 by Sail America to recognize ingenuity in designs by American boat builders. The physical display is housed in The Museum of Yachting located in Fort Adams State Park, Newport, Rhode Island, and includes examples of many of the selected...
for being “the most popular fiberglass boat ever designed, with a quarter million sold worldwide” (at that point in time). Today, the Sunfish brand-name has become so widely known it is often misapplied generically
Genericized trademark
A genericized trademark is a trademark or brand name that has become the colloquial or generic description for, or synonymous with, a general class of product or service, rather than as an indicator of source or affiliation as intended by the trademark's holder...
to refer to any brand board-style boat sporting the characteristic lateen
Lateen
A lateen or latin-rig is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction....
sail.
Design
The distinctive low-aspect ratioAspect ratio (wing)
In aerodynamics, the aspect ratio of a wing is essentially the ratio of its length to its breadth . A high aspect ratio indicates long, narrow wings, whereas a low aspect ratio indicates short, stubby wings....
lateen
Lateen
A lateen or latin-rig is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction....
sail gives the Sunfish an anachronistic appearance compared with today's more familiar high-aspect ratio Bermuda rig
Bermuda rig
The term Bermuda rig refers to a configuration of mast and rigging for a type of sailboat and is also known as a Marconi rig; this is the typical configuration for most modern sailboats...
sailboats. However, this sail plan is not as old-world as it might first appear. Using a lateen rig for this style boat shifts the advantage toward better performance in lighter air (less than 4 on the Beaufort scale
Beaufort scale
The Beaufort Scale is an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land. Its full name is the Beaufort Wind Force Scale.-History:...
) and contributes to it having good down-wind characteristics.
The hull’s very mild "V" bottom and hard chine
Chine (boating)
A chine in boating refers to a sharp angle in the hull, as compared to the rounded bottoms of most traditional boat hulls. The term hard chine indicates an angle with little rounding, where a soft chine would be more rounded, but still involve the meeting of distinct planes. Chine log...
make Sunfish a most stable boat for its size, along with enabling it to sail on a plane
Planing (sailing)
Planing is the mode of operation for a waterborne craft in which its weight is predominantly supported by hydrodynamic lift, rather than hydrostatic lift .-History:...
(hydroplane). Planing allows the boat to achieve a speed greater than theoretical hull speed
Hull speed
Hull speed, sometimes referred to as displacement speed, is the speed of a boat at which the bow and stern waves interfere constructively, creating relatively large waves, and thus a relatively large value of wave drag...
based on length at waterline (LWL
Waterline length
The Waterline length is a measurement of ships and boats. The term denotes the length of the vessel at the point where it sits in the water. It excludes the total length of the boat, such as features that are out of the water...
). Having a down-wind performance advantage helps the Sunfish to achieve a planing attitude at lower wind speeds than its high-aspect ratio sail plan counterparts.
Designed as a water-tight, hollow-body pontoon
Floats (nautical)
Floats are airtight hollow structures, similar to pressure vessels, whose air-filled interior makes them buoyant in water. They are most often used to make up the multipart hulls of trimarans, small open catamarans, and floatplanes . Their main purpose is to supply buoyancy, not storage space...
, a hull like the Sunfish has is sometimes referred to as "self-rescuing" because the boat can be capsized and its cockpit swamped without threat of the boat sinking.
History
Beginnings of Alcort, Inc.
In 1945, Alex Byran and Cortlandt Heyniger created the Alcort company around their first boat design, the SailfishSailfish (sailboat)
The Sailfish sailboat is a small, hollow body, board-boat style sailing dinghy. The design is a shallow draft, sit-upon hull carrying a lateen sail mounted to an un-stayed mast. This style sailboat is sometimes referred to as a "wet boat" because, with its minimal freeboard, the sailor often gets...
. Originally framing carpenters
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
by trade, these two entrepreneurs began their sailcraft endeavors building iceboats as a sideline. A proposal to build a lifesaving paddleboard for the Red Cross came their way. They determined the concept unfeasible as it stood. An improved design sporting a sailing canoe sail rig did however strike a spark as a possible profit making venture. From that humble beginning the Sailfish
Sailfish (sailboat)
The Sailfish sailboat is a small, hollow body, board-boat style sailing dinghy. The design is a shallow draft, sit-upon hull carrying a lateen sail mounted to an un-stayed mast. This style sailboat is sometimes referred to as a "wet boat" because, with its minimal freeboard, the sailor often gets...
was born and seven years later an improved design, the Sunfish.
The kit boat niche
The first Sailfish were offered in the form of detailed drawings for the backyard builder or as a finished, ready-to-sail boat, built by the Alcort shop. In the course of growing their business, Cortlandt and Alex had the revelation to kit the boat by supplying pre-cut pieces, all the necessary fittings, and inclusion of the sail thereby making backyard construction more appealing to an even wider range of would-be boat builders. Sunfish first appeared as either a DIY kit or a finished boat. Of the two designs, only the Sailfish was originally a blueprint plan boat.Waypoints
- For the 1960 model year, Sunfish became available in a fiberglassGlass-reinforced plasticFiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
version for the first time. Alcort shop-built wood boats were phased out around the same period, however, the Sunfish kit boat remained available through the late 1960s.
- 1971 found a storage compartment added to the rear of the cockpit.
- 1972 model saw a revision of the rudderRudderA rudder is a device used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, aircraft or other conveyance that moves through a medium . On an aircraft the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw and p-factor and is not the primary control used to turn the airplane...
blade’s shape, the rudder’s gudgeon & pintlePintleA pintle is a pin or bolt, usually inserted into a gudgeon, which is used as part of a pivot or hinge.A pintle/gudgeon set is used in many spheres, for example: in sailing to hold the rudder onto the boat; in transportation a pincer-type device clamps through a lunette ring on the tongue of a...
, a new shape daggerboardDaggerboardA daggerboard is a retractable centreboard used by various sailing craft. While other types of centreboard may pivot to retract, a daggerboard slides in a casing. The shape of the daggerboard converts the forward motion into a windward lift, countering the leeward push of the...
, and a switch to a Sunfish designed cockpit bailerBailerA bailer in hydrogeology is a hollow tube used to retrieve groundwater samples from monitoring wells. Groundwater monitoring wells are drilled in areas where there are underground storage tanks or where there is environmental remediation occurring. The wells are typically built out of PVC casing...
. This was a turning point for those pieces of equipment, thereafter referred as “New Style” by owners of Sunfish from that era.
- Every few years, hardware and sometimes cosmetics and/or sail colors evolve, adding a piece or two of something more contemporary to replace outdated technology or style.
- In 1969, when AMF took over Sunfish production from Alcort, Inc., one of the expansion strategies was to form the Sunfish (racing) Class Association to help promote the boat through organized sailing competitionDinghy racingDinghy racing is the competitive sport of sailing dinghies. Dinghy racing has affected aspects of the modern dinghy, including hull design, sail materials and sailplan, and techniques such as planing and trapezing.-Organisation of dinghy racing:...
.‡
- In 1986 the fused deck to hull joint was changed from a ½” flat lip protected by an aluminum trim strip to the increased surface area of a rounded gunwaleGunwaleThe gunwale is a nautical term describing the top edge of the side of a boat.Wale is the same word as the skin injury, a wheal, which, too, forms a ridge. Originally the gunwale was the "Gun ridge" on a sailing warship. This represented the strengthening wale or structural band added to the design...
, now more securely bonded using a methacrylateMethacrylateMethacrylates are the salts or esters of methacrylic acid.Methacrylates contain methyl-vinyl groups, that is, two carbon atoms double bonded to each other, directly attached to the carbonyl carbon, and wherein the vinyl group is substituted with a non-terminal methyl group.Methacrylates are common...
adhesive specially suited for fiberglass.
- Sail geometry has changed on a couple of occasions, most significantly in 1989 when the “Racing Sail”, still 75 ft² "sail area", but with deeper draft, was made available as an option.
- In 2010 the last of the Sunfish's wood attributes were superseded when first the rudder and now this year the tiller were changed from wood components to fiberglassGlass-reinforced plasticFiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
and aluminum respectively.
- The Sunfish was inducted into the American Sailboat Hall of FameAmerican Sailboat Hall of FameThe American Sailboat Hall of Fame was established in 1994 by Sail America to recognize ingenuity in designs by American boat builders. The physical display is housed in The Museum of Yachting located in Fort Adams State Park, Newport, Rhode Island, and includes examples of many of the selected...
in 1995.
- Since its introduction in 1952, Sunfish has come under the stewardship of seven successive builders (see Sunfish Builder Chronology below).
‡ One-Design Sunfish racing remains a “manufacturer’s Class” for mutual support and true to all one-on-one style racing, competing boats must conform to One Design
One-design
One-Design is a racing method where all vehicles or boats have identical or very similar designs or models. It is also known as Spec series. It is heavily used in sailboat racing. All competitors in a race are then judged based on a single start time...
and Class Rules in order to qualify to race in sanctioned events. Recreational use boats may be modified as the owner chooses and need not conform to anything more than the local boating safety regulations in effect where the boat is sailed.
Sunfish Builder Chronology
| 1952 - 1969 | Alcort, Inc. (founded 1945) |
| 1969 - 1986 | AMF |
| 1986 - 1988 | Loveless & DeGarmo, dba, Alcort Sailboats Inc. |
| 1988 - 1991 | Pearson Yacht Co. |
| 1991 - 1997 | Sunfish/Laser, Inc. |
| 1997 - 2007 | Vanguard |
| 2007–Present | Laser Performance |
Sunfish in racing
The Sunfish Class Association reported in 2001, Sunfish production had exceeded 300,000 boats. The registrar for One Design sailing in the United States, US Sailing
US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association, better known as US Sailing, is the governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States, particularly yacht, dinghy, windsurfing, and radio sailing racing...
, reported in a 2004 survey, Sunfish Class membership numbered 1,573. This does not mean Sunfish isn’t a preferred race boat. On the contrary, at 1,573 Class members, Sunfish ranks in the upper percentile of boats involved with organized racing in the U.S. It does, however, demonstrate the boat’s above average versatility to suit a broader range of sailing applications.
Fun racing
Recreational, "friendly competition" played a key role in establishing the renowned popularity of the Alcort boat designs. Events of past and present, such as the Connecticut RiverConnecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
race, Seattle's Duck Dodge, and the Hampton Roads Sunfish Challenge & Dinghy Distance Race serve as examples of the sort of fun Sunfish sailors have without getting too serious.
Open Class Racing
Sunfish sailors who are more serious about sailing competitions, but who do not have the advantage of a nearby Sunfish fleet, can race their boat against nearly any other make and model of sailboat in "Open Class" events using a handicap system. Sunfish have a base-line Portsmouth handicap of 99.6One-Design Racing (ISCA)
One Design racing uses nearly identical boats so the competition is based purely on sailing skill. One Design Classes are watched over by a governing body who assure conformity.◊- The International Sunfish Class Association - development
- In 1969 AMF was instrumental in forming the Sunfish (racing) Class Association.
- In 1984 the Sunfish Class became recognized by the International Yacht Racing Union,
-
- today known as the International Sailing FederationInternational Sailing FederationThe International Sailing Federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport of sailing....
(ISAF).- A year later the Sunfish Class went independent as the International Sunfish Class Association (ISCA)
- Sunfish gained Pan American GamesPan American GamesThe Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
status in 1999 and has maintained recognition in following years - International Masters was held outside the United States, in the Netherlands, for the first time in 2005.
- There are three continental and nine national championships regularly.
- Sunfish fleets are active in 28 countries around the globe.
- today known as the International Sailing Federation
◊ ISCA Racing is in accordance with the Sunfish Class Rule Book and ISAF
International Sailing Federation
The International Sailing Federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport of sailing....
Racing Rules of Sailing
Racing Rules of Sailing
The Racing Rules of Sailing govern the conduct of yacht racing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, model boat racing, dinghy racing and virtually any other form of racing around a course with more than one vessel while powered by the wind...
(RRS).
Super Sunfish
In the 1960s, a member of the New Canaan, Conn. Sunfish Fleet, John Black Lee, independently experimented with a conventional sail rig for the Sunfish. He developed a high-aspect ratioAspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,...
sail
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
that worked on the Sunfish hull and christened his design the Formula S. The high aspect ratio sail plan has better upwind performance characteristics over the lateen sail, changing the boat’s handling to point
Points of sail
Points of sail describes a sailing boat's course in relation to the wind direction.There is a distinction between the port tack and the starboard tack. If the wind is coming from anywhere on the port side, the boat is on port tack. Likewise if the wind is coming from the starboard side, the boat...
more like other Bermuda rig
Bermuda rig
The term Bermuda rig refers to a configuration of mast and rigging for a type of sailboat and is also known as a Marconi rig; this is the typical configuration for most modern sailboats...
sailboats in its size. With this configuration, complexity of sail control is elevated by the addition of dynamic outhaul
Outhaul
An outhaul is a line which is part of the running rigging of a sailboat, used to extend a sail and control the shape of the curve of the foot of the sail. It runs from the clew to the end of the boom...
, downhaul
Downhaul
The downhaul is a line which is part of the rigging on a sailboat; it applies downward force on a spar or sail. The most common downhaul on a modern sailboat is attached to the spinnaker pole, though this may be referred to as the foreguy in some rigging nomenclature...
, and mainsheet traveller
Mechanical traveller
A mechanical traveller is a moving part of a machine, typically a ring that slides between different positions on a supporting rod when the machine goes through its operating cycle. The term may also be used refer to the supporting rod....
lines.
Lee's concept didn’t interest Alcort, Inc. as a production model so he refit conversion boats independently and sparked organization of Formula S fleets. A few years after their 1969 purchase of Alcort, Inc., AMF revisited the idea of a high aspect ratio rig for the Sunfish. AMF did not choose to adopt Lee’s Formula S design, they did however, develop their own variation calling it the Super Sunfish. The existing Formula S fleet eventually became assimilated into the ranks of AMF Super Sunfish fleets.
The Super Sunfish was available from 1974 to 1984. AMF marketed this more conventional sail plan as a performance version of the Sunfish in an attempt to compete with, among others, the newly emerging Laser. Portsmouth handicap numbers, however, place the Laser slightly faster. With its hard chine
Chine (boating)
A chine in boating refers to a sharp angle in the hull, as compared to the rounded bottoms of most traditional boat hulls. The term hard chine indicates an angle with little rounding, where a soft chine would be more rounded, but still involve the meeting of distinct planes. Chine log...
hull, the Super Sunfish is the more stable boat so it's a tradeoff between the two designs.
The Super Sunfish was offered as a complete package and as a kit to retrofit existing lateen rigged Sunfish. The literature points out the sail systems can be easily swapped on a single Sunfish hull to accommodate different sailor's preferences.
| CENTERBOARD CLASS | USSA CODE | DPN | BN 0-1 | BN 2-3 | BN 4 | BN 5-9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunfish | SF | 99.6 | 102.9 | 100.3 | 97.7 | 95.6 |
| Super Sunfish | SSF | 100.7 | 102.4 | 102.3 | 99.3 | (95.8) |
External links
- International Sunfish Class Association
- LaserPerformance
- The Sunfish Forum - Sunfish News, Discussion, and classified ads
- Sunfish Racing Class Netherlands, Sunfishklasse Nederland
- Sunfish Sailor, Owner's Support Group